Momentary contact adapter for auxiliary switch



Nov. 10, 1959 D. A. WALL Q 2,912,523

MOMENTARY CONTACT ADAPTER FOR AUXILIARY SWITCH Filed Sept. 2. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 INVENTOR.

Nov. 10,1959 D. A. WALL 2,9

MOMENTARY CONTACT ADAPT ER FOR AUXILIARY SWITCH Filed Sept. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAF/fi ,4 144414 Array/1am United States Fatent MOMENTARY CONTACT ADAPTER FOR- AUXILIARY SWITCH David A. Wall, Los Ange les, CaliL, assignor, by inesne' assignments, to I-T-E'Cir'cuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia', Pa.; acorporation .of Pennsylvania Application September 2, 1958, Serial N... 758,284

1 Claims. 01. 200-6) My invention relates to an improved mechanism for adaptinga rotary type switch having a pluralityof axially arranged contact members with an auxiliary contact for a single momentary make during the complete operating cycle of the switch and is a continuation in partof my copending application Serial No. 696,559, filed November 14,1957, entitled Momentary Contact Adapter for Auxiliary Swi-tchand assigned to the assignee' of the instant invention.

There are many applications of a ganged type switch where it is desirableto' have at least one of the contacts perform a momentary make at one point within the complete cycle of the switch. By way of an example, certain types of reclosing relays require the momentary ener'gization of a starting or pick-up circuit.

In the switch of my copending application Serial No. 696,559, the cooperating momentary make contacts are moved into proximity with respect to one another during thereturn cycle.

The principle-of this invention is to automatically insert a dielectric barrier between the cooperating make contacts during the above noted part of the switch cycle when the contacts do not remake, but come into proximity with one another.

Accordingly, the primary object of my invention is to provide a novel adaption mechanism for a rotary type 'SWitChof standard manufacture which performs a momentary make at some predetermined point-within a complete operating cycle of the switch, and themake contacts are isolated from one-another during a portion of the cycle by a dielectric barrier.

Another object of my invention is to provide anovel switch arrangement which provides a plurality of contacts and an auxiliary momentary contact which performs a momentary make operation at a predetermined point'within the operating cycle and is directly operable from the same operating shaft that operates thestandard contacts, and the momentary make contacts are isolated by a dielectric barrier during a portion of the operating cycle.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a ganged rotary switch having a momentary make contact which is fully insulated during itsinoperative in-' tervalswhere the simplicity of design makes -iteas'ily mass-produced at low cost.

These and other objects-of iny-invention-will become apparent from the operating description when taken in conjunction with the'drawings,"in which:

m'entary make contact moved from the position of Figure 3 tea make position.

2,912,528 Pai tented Nov. 10, 1959 Figure 5 is similar to Figure. 4 and shows the momentary make contact when moved fromthe make position of Figure 4 to a disengaged position at the end of thefirst-half cycle of switch operation.

Figure 6 'is similar to Figure 5 and .shows the momentary contact position whenthe' contact has been moved from the open position ofFigure 5 and through the contact position of the second cycle without causing re-engagement between the cooperating momentary make contacts.

As will be seen hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of my invention comprises the addition of an adapter member to a standard switch mechanism which is rotatable from the rotating contact for at least a portion of the rotation of the rotatable contact.

More specifically at the beginning of a switch operating cycle, the rotating momentary make contact is rotated into engagement with a semi-stationary cooperating contact, and as the rotating contact continues to rotate out of the engaged position, it picks up the adapter member and causes the adapter member to move the semi-stationary contact to a position removed from the contact engaging position. This adapter member further carries a dielectric barrier as an integral portion thereof and positions the dielectric barrier in front of the semi-stationary contact. When the rotating contact is then rotated back to its original position, the adapter member is unaffected so that the rotating contact passes by 'the semi-stationary contact withou engaging it and being fully insulated from it by the dielectric barrier. After the rotating contact passes the contact engaging point, it once again picks up the adapter member and allows the semi-stationary contact to move back to the engaging position for the next cycle.

Referring now to Figure l, a complete switch assem bly is seen therein as comprising a plurality of insulator plate sections 20,22, 24, 26 and 28 which are fastened together by means of a nut-bolt arrangement 30 and 32 on either side of the switch wherein the bolts are terminated at the rear-end of the switch housing.

A contact assembly comprised of a pair of semi-stationary contacts such as semi-stationary contacts 34 and 36 are positioned between eachadjacent pair of insulator plates. Since this type of construction is well known in the art, it will not be further discussed. It is sufficient to understand that each of the contact pairs on the interior of the switch are positioned to cooperate with rotatable contact elements such as contact elements 38 and 40 which are mounted on insulating discs 42 and 44 and are rotatable by shaft 46.

Thus, when.;the shaft 46 is rotated, contacts 33 and 40 which may be shaped as rotatable contact 48 of Figures 1 and 2, move protruding contact lobes into engagement with a respective semi-stationary contactpositioned in the same plane as the plane which'contains the rotatable contact.

.Each of the semi-stationary contacts as best seen in; Figures 1 and 2 are comprised of contact fingers 34 and 36. Each of the contact fingers have slots such .as slots 50 and 52 therein which slots cooperate with protrusions 54 and 56 respectively of the stationary terminals 58 and 60 respectively. Stationary terminals'58 and 60 are then rigidly. held within the molded switc'h casing as is seen in Figure 1 and in view of the cooperation between slots '50 and 52of contact fingers 34 and 36pmtrusi'ons 54 and '56, contact fingers 34 and 36 a'r'ere'movably and pivotally mounted with respect to'th'e switch housing. I

Each of the c'ont'act fingers 34 "and 36 are-further provided with protrusions. 62 and 64 which extend Within the inner: diamete'r of 'biasing springs and 68 resp'ectively. The other end-of biasing springs '66=and 68 then bear against the molded switch housing and exert a biasing force on the spring fingers 34 and 36 which tends to drive their upper ends toward one another.

In the above description, it is to'be understood that this is only one type of semi-stationary contact construction which could be utilized in a switch adapted with my novel invention. It is to be further understood that this construction may be standard for each section of the switch. That is to say, the same type of contact construction may be used for the switch members positioned between each adjacent insulator plate 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28.

A further standard member for the switch is the above described rotatable contact element 48 of Figure 2. This contact element in the illustrative embodiment of my invention is comprised of circular contact body having protruding contactlobes 70 and 72. The rotatable contact element is held within an insulating casing 74 which has notches 76 and 78 therein for receiving each of lobes 70 and 72 respectively. The retaining disc 80 is then pressed on top of the contact element 48 to rigidly retain it within casing 74.

In order to rotate contact element 48 so that lobes 70 and 72 may be brought into engagement with respect to their semi-stationary contacts, the inner diameter of casing 74 is knurled as at numeral 82. This knurled section receives a cooperating knurl on shaft 46 to insure the shaft to the casing. Clearly, however, shaft 46 could be secured to the base of casing 74 in any desired manner.

Each of the normally used contact elements of the switch of Figure l are operated into and out of engagement responsive to the rotation of a single shaft 46. If, within the single switch unit, it is desired to move certain of the contact elements to the engaged position and at the same time move others to a disengaged position, then it is only necessary to angularly displace the position of the lobes of the contact elements with respect to one another.

Because of the inherent properties of a rotatable type switch unit such as the one described above, it has not been possible to have any one of the contact elements perform a momentary make operation only once throughout a complete switch operating cycle. That is, it is possible to displace one particular contact with respect to the others so that when the switch shaft 46 is rotated to a first position, the contact will sweep past its cooperating stationary contacts for a first make operation; When, however, the rotatable shaft 46 is rotated in the opposite direction to complete the switch operating cycle, this momentary contact will make once again to thereby re-energize the momentary make circuit which in many applications would be prohibitive.

The essence of the invention of my above noted copending application Serial No. 696,559 is to provide a construction which would allow the first make operation to prevent the second make operation when the switch is rotated to complete the switch operating cycle. This may be applied to the above described standard switch unit by the mere addition of a single momentary contact adapter 84 which is comprised of a cylindrical member having flattened side portions 86 and 8 8 and slotted portions 90 and 92. Ring 84 which is preferably of insulating material has an outside diameter which is larger than the distance from the ends of the two lobes 70 and 72 while the flat portions 102 and 104 extend tangently from the outer diameter to flats 86 and 88 respectively. Clearly, surfaces of portions 102 and 104 could be depressions in the outer diameter which would be congruent to the shape of semi-stationary contacts 34 and 36. The outer surfaces of notches 90 and 92 extend from the inner diameter to flats 86 and 88 for a distance substantially equal to the width of contact lobes 70and 72 and adjacently continue within the surfaces of protrusions 106 and 108. The diametrical distance between the inner surfaces of protrusions 106 and 108 which operate as the dielectric barrier of the invention is adequate to allow contact lobes 70 and 72 of ring 48 to rotate freely between shoulders 94 and 98, and 96 and 100.

The depth of notches and 92 is substantially equal to the thickness of contact lobes 70 and 72 in an axial direction. The inner diameter of ring 84 is then large enough to receive the outer diameter of casing 74 in a rotatable manner with the inner surfaces of lobes 70 and 72 riding on the outer surfaces of notches 90, and 92 respectively.

Accordingly, when shaft 46 is rotated, the contact ring 48 will rotate independently of ring 84 until lobes 70 and 72 pick-up the shoulders of notches 90 and 92 at which time ring 84 will rotate with contact ring 48 and shaft 46.

The operation of my novel adaptation unit may be best understood with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 which show a front view of the switch of Figures 1 and 2 in various operating positions.

Figure 3 shows the switch of Figure 1 at the beginning of its operating cycle where the momentary make contact lobes 70 and 72 are in a disengaged position with respect to semi-stationary contacts 34 and 36. The semi-stationary contacts 34 and 36 in this position are biased against fiat sections 86 and 88 of my novel adapter disc 84 and at this point shaft 46 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to begin the switch operating cycle.

It is to be clearly noted that at this point, contact lobes 70 and '72 bear against shoulders 94 and 96 respectively and notches 90 and 92 respectively.

When the shaft 46 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction, lobes 70 and 72 move into engagement with respect to semi-stationary contacts 34 and 36 as seen in Figure 4. Thus, a current path is set up for stationary terminal 58, contact finger 34, contact lobe 70, ring 48, contact lobe '72, contact finger 36 and stationary terminal 60. Accordingly, a circuit connected in series with stationary terminals 58 and 60 will be energized.

As the switch shaft 46 continues to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 4 to place the other operation switch contacts in their desired position, the ring adapter 84 of Figure 4 will be moved to the position shown in Figure 5 since when in the position of Figure 4, the contact lobes 70 and 72 pick-up shoulders 98 and 100 respectively to ring 84 to cause ring 84 to rotate with shaft 46. Accordingly, when the switch reaches the end of the first half of the operating cycle, the adapter ring 84 will have been rotated to the position of Figure 5 where the semi-stationary contact members 34 and 36 are pressed outwardly and against the biasing action of biasing springs 66 and 68 to a position where contact engagement with respect to lobes 70 and 72 would be impossible if the lobes were in a horizontal and an engageable position.

At this time, the other various contact elements of the switch unit have been moved to their desired make or break position. When it is desired to reverse the switch action and to complete the second half of the switch operating cycle, it is now desired to prevent the momentary make contact operation.

This is achieved as seen when going from the position of Figure 5 to the position of Figure 6 where the contact lobes 70 and 72 are free to rotate within notches 90 and 92 respectively until they reach at least the horizontal and contact engageable position. However, in going from the position of Figure 5 to the position of Figure 6, the rotatable contact moves independently of adapter disc 84 since flat portions 102 and 104 cooperate with semi-stationary contacts 34 and 36 to resist any. movement which might result from friction between casing 74 and adapter disc 84. Thus, the outer surface of adapter disc 84 remains in engagement with semi-stationary conamaze 5 .tacts 34 and :36 to prevent a contact engagement between the contact lob'es 70 and 72 and the stationary contacts 34 and 36. Accordingly, the momentary make operationduring the second half of the operating cycle is -prevented and protrusions 106 and 108 are introducedbetween contact lobes 70 and 72 and semi-stationary contacts 34 and 36 respectively. Therefore, the dielectric "barrier assures that when, the cooperating contacts are not to be closed, there will be a sufficient dielectric in the air gap toprevent break down and arcing.

The operating cycle isthen continued and returns the switch "from the position of :Figure 6 to the position of Figure 3 by continued clockwise'rotation with thecontact lobes 70 and 72 picking-up shoulders 94 and 96 respectively to rotate adapter disc 84 back to its initial position thus allowing the semi-stationary contacts to return to their engaging position.

The primary feature of my novel invention as above described is that a single unit such as adapter disc 84 may be easily applied to an existing switch unit and thus provide a contact element which performs a momentary make operation only one time within a complete operating cycle.

'As'described above, the momentary make is achieved in the middle of the first half cycle of switch operation. However-pit is obvious to anyone skilled in the art that the point of momentary make operation can be easily controlled :by adjusting the initial position of disc 84. and

therelationship between notches 90 and 92 and flats 86 and 88. I

In the foregoing, I have described my invention onlyv in connection with preferred embodiments thereof.

Many variations and modifications of the principles of said respective stationary contact; one of said pairs of stationary and rotatable contacts being constructed to have a momentary make once throughout the switch operating cycle; said momentary make stationary contact being movable from a contact engaging position to a contactdisengaged position; said momentary make rotatable Lcontact having an adapter member associated therewith and rotatable therewith for at least a portion of the rotation of said rotatable contact; said adapter member being positionable by a predetermined rotation of said momenmake rotatable contact to operatively engage said momentary make stationary contact to move said momentary make stationary contact to its said contact disengaged position to thereby defeat contact engagement between said momentary make stationary and rotatable contacts; said adapter member carrying an insulating barrier;said adapter member positioning said insulating barrier adjacent said momentary make stationary contact when said adapter member operatively engages said momentary make stationary contact.

-2.-In a switch device havinga plurality of axially arranged pairs of stationary and rotatably movable contacts; each of said rotatably movable contacts being rotatably movable into and out of engagement with their said respective stationary contact; one of said pairs of stationary and rotatable contacts being constructed to have a momentary make once throughout the switch operating cycle; said momentary make stationary contact being movable from a contact engaging position to a contact disengaged position; said momentary make rotatable contact having an adapter member associated therewith and rotatable therewith for at least a portion of the rotation of said rotatable contact; said adapter member being Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by.

positionable by a predeternnned rotation ofsaid-momenttaryimake rotatable contact to operatively engage said momentary make stationary contact to move said momentary make stationary contact to its said contact disengaged position to thereby defeat contact engagement be tween said momentary make stationary and rotatable contacts; said momentary make rotatable contact initially rotating independently of said adapter member andzengaging said momentary make stationary contact and thereafter moving said adapter member to move said momentary make stationary contact to said contact disengaged position; said momentary make rotatable contact being thereafter incapable of reengaging said momentary make stationary contact when the switch cycle is completed by moving said momentary make rotatable contact past said momentary make stationary contact a second time; said adapter member carrying an insulating barrier; said adapter member positioning said insulating barrier adjacent said momentary make stationary contact when said adapter member operatively engages said momentary make stationary contact.

3. A momentary make contact arrangement for achieving momentary make between a semi-stationary contact and a rotatable contact once in a switch cycle; said semi-stationary contact having an engaging and disengaged position; said rotatable contact being rotatable into engagement with respect to said semi-stationary contact when said semi-stationary contact is in-said engaging position; an adapter member constructed to be rotated responsive to. a predetermined rotation of said rotatable contact; said adapter member being rotatable into engagement with'said semi stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged position; rotation of said rotatable contact in a-first direction beingindependent of said adapter member until said rotatable contact engages said semi-stationary contact and thereafter moving said adapter member into said operative engagement with said semi-stationary contact to move said semistationary contact to said disengaged position; said rotatable contact moving said adapter member from said operative engagement with said semi-stationary contact when said rotatable contact is moved in an opposite direction and after said rotatable contact is moved past said semi-stationary contact; said adapter member carrying an insulating barrier; saidadapter member positioning said insulating barrier adjacent said semi-stationary contact when said adapter member operatively engages said semi-stationary contact.

4. A momentary make contact arrangement for achieving momentary make between a semi-stationary contact and a rotatable contact once in a switch cycle; said semi-stationary contact having an engaging and disengaged position; said rotatable contact being rotatable into engagement with respect to saidsembstationary contact when said semi-stationary contact is in said engaging position; an adapter member constructed to be rotated responsive to a predetermined rotation of said rotatable contact; said adapter member being rotatable-into engagement with said semi-stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged position; rotation of said rotatable contact in a first direction being independent of said adapter member until said rotatable and semi-stationary contact engage and thereafter moving said adapter member into said operative engagement with said semi-stationary contact to move said semistationary contact to said disengaged position; said rotatable contact moving said adapter member from said operative engagement with said semi-stationary contact when said rotatable contact is moved in an opposite direction and after said rotatable contact is moved past said semi-stationary contact; said adapter member comprising a disc having an outer radius larger than the radius of said rotatable contact; said disc having a flattened side with a notch therein; said rotatable contact being freely rotatably movable within said notch and picking-up said 7 disc for rotation therewith when said rotatable contact engages one shoulder of said notch; said outer radius and said flattened portion of said disc being engageable with said semi-stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged and engaging position respectively; said adapter member carrying an insulating barrier; said adapter member positioning said insulating barrier adjacent said semi-stationary contact when said adapter member operatively engages said semi-stationary contact.

5. A momentary make contact arrangement for achieving momentary make between a semi-stationary contact and arotatable contact once in a switch cycle; said semistationary contact having an engaging and disengaged position; said rotatable contact being rotatable into engagement with respect to said semi-stationary contact when said semi-stationary contact is in said engaging position; an adapter member constructed to be rotated responsive to a predetermined rotation of said rotatable contact; said adapter member being rotatable into engagement with said semi-stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged position; rotation of said rotatable contact in a first direction being independent of said adapter member until said rotatable I and semi-stationary contact engage and thereafter moving said adapter member into said operative engagement with said semi-stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged position; said rotatable contact moving said adapter member from said operative engagement with said semi-stationary contact when said rotatable contact is moved in an opposite direction and after said rotatable contact is moved past said semistationary contact; said adapter member comprising a disc having an outer radius larger than the radius of said rotatable contact; said disc having a flattened side with a notch therein; said rotatable contact being freely rotatably movable within said notch and picking-up said disc for rotation therewithwhen said rotatable contact engages one shoulder of said notch; said outer radius and said flattened portion of said disc being engageable with said semi-stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged and engaging position respectively; said semi-stationary contacts being biased into engagement with said outer radius and said flattened portion of said disc; said adapter member carrying an insulating barrier; said adapter member positioning said insulating barrier adjacent said semi-stationary contact when said adapter member operatively engages said semistationary contact. I

6. In a switch device having a plurality of axially arranged pairs of stationary and rotatably movable contacts; each of said rotatably removable contacts being rotatably movable into and out of engagement with their respective stationary contact; one of said pairs of stationary and rotatable contacts being constructed to have a momentary make once throughout the switch operating cycle; said momentary make stationary contact being movable from a contact engaging position to a contact disengaged position; said momentary make rotatable contact having an adapter member associated therewith and rotatable therewith for at least a portion of the rotation of said rotatable contact; said adapter member being positionable by a predetermined rotation of said momentary make rotatable contact to operatively engage said momentary make stationary contact to its said contact disengaged positon to thereby defeat contact engagement between said momentary make stationary and rotatable contacts; said adapter member comprising a disc having an outer radius larger than the radius of said rotatable contact; said disc having a flattened side with a notch therein; said rotatable contactbeing freely rotatably movable within said notch and picking-up said disc for rotation therewith when said rotatable contact engages one shoulder of said notch; said outer radius and said flattened position of said disc being engageable with said semi-stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged and engaging position respectively; said adapter member carrying an insulating barrier; said adapter member positioning said insulating barrier adjacent said momentary make stationary contact when said adapter member operatively engages said momentary make stationary contact.

7. In a switch device having a plurality of axially arranged pairs of stationary and rotatably movable contacts; each of said rotatably movable contacts being rotatably movable into and out of engagement with their said re.- spective stationary contact; one of said pairs of stationary and rotatable contacts being constructed to have a momentary make once throughout the switch operating cycle; said momentary make stationary contact being movable from a contact engaging position to a contact disengaged position; said momentary make rotatable contact having an adapter member associated therewith and rotatable therewith for at least a portion of the rotation of said rotatable contact; said adapter member being positionable by a predetermined rotation of said momentary make rotatable contact to operatively engage said momentary make stationary contact to itssaid contact disengaged position to thereby defeat contact engagement between said momentary make stationary and rotatable contacts said momentary make rotatable contact initially rotating independently of said adapter member and engaging said momentary make semi-stationary contact and thereafter moving said adapter member to move said momentary make semi-stationary contact to said contact disengaging position; said momentary make rotatablecontact being thereafter incapable of re-engaging said momentary make semi-stationary contact when the switch cycle is completed by moving said momentary make rotatable contact past said momentary make stationary contact a second time; said adapter member comprising a disc having an outer radius larger than the radius of said rotatable contact; said disc having a flattened side and a notch therein; said rotatable contact being freely rotatably movable within said notch and picking-up said disc for rotation therewith when said rotatable contact engages one shoulder of said notch; said outer radius and said flattened portion of said disc being engageable with said semi-stationary contact to move said semi-stationary contact to said disengaged and engaging position respectively; said adapter member carrying an insulating barrier; said adapter member positioning said insulating barrier adjacent said semi-stationary contact when said adapter member operatively engages said semi-stationary contact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,366,994 Winters et a1 Feb. 1, 1921 1,905,228 James Apr. 25, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 314,121 Switzerland Ju1y14, 1 956 

